U.S. patent application number 10/547134 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-11 for thin film capacity element composition, high-permittivity insulation film, thin film capacity element, thin film multilayer capacitor, electronic circuit and electronic apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to TDK CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Hiroshi Funakubo, Yukio Sakashita.
Application Number | 20060098385 10/547134 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32923380 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060098385 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sakashita; Yukio ; et
al. |
May 11, 2006 |
Thin film capacity element composition, high-permittivity
insulation film, thin film capacity element, thin film multilayer
capacitor, electronic circuit and electronic apparatus
Abstract
A thin film capacity element composition includes a first
bismuth layer-structured compound having positive temperature
characteristics, that a specific permittivity rises as the
temperature rises, in at least a part of a predetermined
temperature range and a second bismuth layer-structured compound
having negative temperature characteristics, that a specific
permittivity declines as a temperature rises, in at least a part of
said predetermined temperature range at any mixing ratio; wherein
the bismuth layer-structured compound is expressed by a composition
formula of Ca.sub.xSr.sub.(1-x)Bi.sub.4Ti.sub.4O.sub.15.
Inventors: |
Sakashita; Yukio; (Chuo-ku,
JP) ; Funakubo; Hiroshi; (Kawasaki-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OLIFF & BERRIDGE, PLC
P.O. BOX 19928
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22320
US
|
Assignee: |
TDK CORPORATION
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
32923380 |
Appl. No.: |
10/547134 |
Filed: |
November 18, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
November 18, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP03/14651 |
371 Date: |
August 26, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
361/272 ;
257/E21.272 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01L 28/56 20130101;
H01G 4/1218 20130101; H01G 4/20 20130101; H01G 4/33 20130101; H01L
21/31691 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/272 |
International
Class: |
H01G 2/00 20060101
H01G002/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 27, 2003 |
JP |
2003-051897 |
Claims
1. A thin film capacity element composition, including: a first
bismuth layer-structured compound having positive temperature
characteristics, that a specific permittivity rises as a
temperature rises, in at least a part of a predetermined
temperature range; and a second bismuth layer-structured compound
having negative temperature characteristics, that a specific
permittivity declines as a temperature rises, in at least a part of
said predetermined temperature range; at a predetermined ratio.
2. The thin film capacity element composition as set forth in claim
1, wherein: said first and second bismuth layer-structured
compounds are expressed by a composition formula of
(Bi.sub.2O.sub.2).sup.2+(A.sub.m-1 B.sub.m O.sub.3m+1).sup.2- or
Bi.sub.2 A.sub.m-1 B.sub.m O.sub.3m+3, wherein "m" is a positive
number, "A" is at least one element selected from Na, K, Pb, Ba,
Sr, Ca and Bi, and "B" is at least one element selected from Fe,
Co, Cr, Ga, Ti, Nb, Ta, Sb, V, Mo, W and Mn.
3. The thin film capacity element composition as set forth in claim
1, wherein a composition formula of said second bismuth
layer-structured compound is expressed by
SrBi.sub.4Ti.sub.4O.sub.15 or SrBi.sub.2Ta.sub.2O.sub.9.
4. The thin film capacity element composition as set forth in claim
1, wherein said first bismuth layer-structured compound is
expressed by a composition formula of x
(MBi.sub.4Ti.sub.4O.sub.15), said second bismuth layer-structured
compound is expressed by a composition formula of (1-x)
SrBi.sub.4Ti.sub.4O.sub.15, "M" in the composition formula is at
least one of Ca, Ba and Pb, and "x" indicating a mixing ratio of
said first bismuth layer-structured compound with respect to the
entire composition satisfies 0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.
5. The thin film capacity element composition as set forth in claim
4, wherein a compound of said first bismuth layer-structured
compound and second bismuth layer-structured compound is expressed
by a composition formula of
Ca.sub.xSr.sub.(1-x)Bi.sub.4Ti.sub.4O.sub.15, wherein "x" satisfies
0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.
6. The thin film capacity element composition as set forth in claim
1, furthermore including a rare earth element (at least one element
selected from Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho,
Er, Tm, Yb and Lu).
7. A thin film capacity element composition including a bismuth
layer-structured compound having a c-axis oriented substantially
vertical with respect to a surface of a thin film formation
substrate, wherein: the bismuth layer-structured compound is
expressed by a composition formula of
Ca.sub.xSr.sub.(1-x)Bi.sub.4Ti.sub.4O.sub.15, wherein "x" satisfies
0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.
8. The thin film capacity element composition as set forth in claim
7, wherein "x" in said composition formula satisfies
0<x<1.
9. The thin film capacity element composition as set forth in claim
7, wherein "x" in said composition formula satisfies
0.25<x<0.75.
10. The thin film capacity element composition as set forth in
claim 7, wherein "x" in said composition formula satisfies
0.5<x<0.75.
11. The thin film capacity element composition as set forth in
claim 1, being c-axis oriented.
12. The thin film capacity element composition as set forth in
claim 11, wherein the c-axis orientation degree is 80% or more.
13. A thin film capacity element, wherein a lower portion
electrode, a dielectric thin film and an upper portion electrode
are formed successively on a substrate, wherein said dielectric
thin film is composed of the thin film capacity element composition
as set forth in claim 1.
14. A thin film capacity element, wherein a lower portion
electrode, a dielectric thin film and an upper portion electrode
are formed successively on a substrate, wherein: said dielectric
thin film is composed of a thin film capacity element composition;
the thin film capacity element composition has a bismuth
layer-structured compound having a c-axis oriented substantially
vertical with respect to a surface of a thin film formation
substrate; and the bismuth layer-structured compound is expressed
by a composition formula of
Ca.sub.xSr.sub.(1-x)Bi.sub.4Ti.sub.4O.sub.15, wherein "x" satisfies
0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.
15. The thin film capacity element as set forth in claim 14,
wherein x in said composition formula is 0<x<1.
16. The thin film capacity element as set forth in claim 13,
wherein an average change rate (.DELTA..epsilon.) of a permittivity
against a temperature at least in a temperature range of
-55.degree. C. to +150.degree. C. is within .+-.100 ppm/.degree. C.
(reference temperature is 25.degree. C.).
17. The thin film capacity element as set forth in claim 16,
wherein an average change rate (.DELTA..epsilon.) of a permittivity
against a temperature at least in a temperature range of
-55.degree. C. to +150.degree. C. is within .+-.70 ppm/.degree. C.
(reference temperature is 25.degree. C.).
18. The thin film capacity element as set forth in claim 17,
wherein an average change rate (.DELTA..epsilon.) of a permittivity
against a temperature at least in a temperature range of
-55.degree. C. to +150.degree. C. is within .+-.30 ppm/.degree. C.
(reference temperature is 25.degree. C.).
19. A thin film multilayer capacitor, wherein a plurality of
dielectric thin films and internal electrode thin films are
alternately stacked on a substrate, wherein: said dielectric thin
film is composed of the thin film capacity element composition as
set forth in claim 1.
20. A thin film multilayer capacitor, wherein a plurality of
dielectric thin films and internal electrode thin films are
alternately stacked on a substrate, wherein: said dielectric thin
film is composed of a thin film capacity element composition; the
thin film capacity element composition includes a bismuth
layer-structured compound having a c-axis being substantially
vertical with respect to a surface of a thin film formation
substrate; and said bismuth layer-structured compound is expressed
by a composition formula of
Ca.sub.xSr.sub.(1-x)Bi.sub.4Ti.sub.4O.sub.15, wherein "x" satisfies
0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.
21. The thin film multilayer capacitor as set forth in claim 20,
wherein x in said composition formula is 0<x<1.
22. A high-permittivity insulation film composed of the thin film
capacity element composition as set forth in claim 1 and including
a bismuth layer-structured compound having a c-axis oriented
substantially vertical with respect to a surface of a thin film
formation substrate.
23. A high-permittivity insulation film, including a bismuth
layer-structured compound having a c-axis oriented substantially
vertical with respect to a surface of the thin film formation
substrate, wherein: the bismuth layer-structured compound is
expressed by a composition formula of
Ca.sub.xSr.sub.(1-x)Bi.sub.4Ti.sub.4O.sub.15, wherein "x" satisfies
0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.
24. The high-permittivity insulation film as set forth in claim 23,
wherein x in said composition formula is 0<x<1.
25. An electronic circuit including the thin film capacity element
composition as set forth in claim 1.
26. An electronic apparatus including the thin film capacity
element composition as set forth in claim 1.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a thin film capacity
element composition, a high-permittivity insulation film, a thin
film capacity element, a thin film multilayer capacitor, an
electronic circuit and an electronic-apparatus.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] As a dielectric composition used for a multilayer ceramic
capacitor bulk shaped capacitor materials, such as lanthanum
titanate (La.sub.2O.sub.3.2TiO.sub.2), zinc titanate
(ZnO.TiO.sub.2), magnesium titanate (MgTiO.sub.3), titanium oxide
(TiO.sub.2), bismuth titanate (Bi.sub.2O.sub.3.2TiO.sub.2), calcium
titanate (CaTiO.sub.3) and strontium titanate (SrTiO.sub.3), are
known. Capacitor materials of this kind have a small temperature
coefficient, so that they can be preferably used for a coupling
circuit, audio circuit and an image processing circuit, etc.
[0003] However, capacitor materials of this kind have a tendency
that the permittivity becomes low (for example, less than 40) when
the temperature coefficient becomes small (for example, within
.+-.100 ppm/.degree. C.), while when the permittivity becomes high
(for example 90 or higher), the temperature coefficient also
becomes large (for example, .+-.750 ppm/.degree. C. or larger). For
example, temperature coefficients (the reference temperature is
25.degree. C., the unit is ppm/.degree. C.) of
La.sub.2O.sub.3.2TiO.sub.2, ZnO.TiO.sub.2, MgTiO.sub.3 are small as
+60, -60 and +100, respectively, and along therewith, the
permittivity (a measurement frequency is 1 MHz, no unit) becomes
small as 35 to 38, 35 to 38 and 16 to 18, respectively. On the
other hand, for example, permittivity of TiO.sub.2,
Bi.sub.2O.sub.3.2TiO.sub.2, CaTiO.sub.3 and SrTiO.sub.3 is high as
90 to 110, 104 to 110, 150 to 160 and 240 to 260, respectively, and
along therewith, their temperature coefficients become large as
-750, -1500, -1500 and -3300, respectively. Accordingly,
development of a temperature compensating capacitor material, which
can maintain a relatively high permittivity even when the
temperature coefficient is small, is desired.
[0004] In recent years, in the field of electronic devices, there
have been demands for a furthermore compact capacitor element as an
essential circuit element in a variety of electronic circuits along
with electronic circuits becoming higher in density and more highly
integrated.
[0005] For example, a thin film capacitor using a single-layer
dielectric thin film is behind in making a compact integrated
circuit with a transistor or other active element, which has been a
factor of hindering realization of an ultra-high integrated
circuit. It was a low permittivity of a dielectric material to be
used that has hindered attaining of a compact thin film capacitor.
Accordingly, it is significant to use a dielectric material having
a high permittivity to realize a more compact thin film capacitor
with a relatively high capacity.
[0006] Also, in recent years, a conventional multilayer film of
SiO.sub.2 and Si.sub.3N.sub.4 has become hard to respond to a
capacitor material for a DRAM of the next generation (gigabit
generation) in terms of capacity density, and a material system
having a higher permittivity has gathered attention. In such a
material system, an application of TaOx (.epsilon.=30 or smaller)
has been mainly studied but development of other materials has come
to be actively pursued.
[0007] As a dielectric material having a relatively high
permittivity, (Ba, Sr)TiO.sub.3 (BST) and Pb(Mg.sub.1/3
Nb.sub.2/3)O.sub.3 (PMN) are known.
[0008] It can be considered that it is possible to attain a compact
body when composing a thin film capacity element by using a
dielectric material of this kind.
[0009] However, a dielectric material of this kind was not a
temperature compensating material and the temperature coefficient
was large (for example, exceeding 4000 ppm/.degree. C. in BST), so
that when configuring a thin film capacitor element by using such a
material, temperature characteristics of the permittivity was
deteriorated in some cases. Also, when using dielectric materials
of this kind, the permittivity declined as the dielectric film
became thinner in some cases. Furthermore, a leakage property and a
breakdown voltage were also deteriorated due to apertures generated
on the dielectric film as the film became thinner in some cases.
Furthermore, it was liable that the dielectric film to be formed
had poor surface smoothness. Note that due to a large effect by
lead compounds, such as PMN, on the environment, a high capacity
capacitor not containing lead has been desired in recent years.
[0010] On the other hand, to realize a more compact multilayer
ceramic capacitor with a larger capacity, it is desired that a
thickness of one dielectric layer is made as thin as possible (a
thinner layer) and the number of dielectric layers at a
predetermined size is increased as much as possible (an increase of
stacked layers).
[0011] However, for example, when producing a multilayer ceramic
capacitor by a sheet method (a method of forming a dielectric green
sheet layer on a carrier film by using a dielectric layer paste by
the doctor blade method, etc., printing an internal electrode layer
paste to be a predetermined pattern thereon, then, releasing them
one by one and stacking the same), the dielectric layer could not
be made thinner than ceramic material powder. Furthermore, it was
difficult to make the dielectric layer thin, for example, as 2
.mu.m or thinner because of problems of short-circuiting and
breaking of internal electrode, etc. due to a defective dielectric
layer. Also, when a thickness of one dielectric layer was made
thinner, the number of stacked layers was also limited. Note that
the same problem remained in the case of producing a multilayer
ceramic capacitor by the printing method (a method of alternately
printing a dielectric layer paste and an internal electrode layer
paste for a plurality of times on a carrier film, for example, by
using the screen printing method, then, removing the carrier
film).
[0012] Due to the above reasons, there was a limit in making the
multilayer ceramic capacitor more compact and higher in
capacity.
[0013] Thus, a variety of proposals have been made to solve the
problem (for example, the patent article 1: the Japanese Patent
Publication No. 56-144523, the patent article 2: the Japanese
Patent Publication No. 5-335173, the patent article 3: the Japanese
Patent Publication No. 5-335174, the patent article 4: the Japanese
Patent Publication No. 11-214245 and the patent article 5: the
Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-124056, etc.). These
publications disclose methods of producing a multilayer ceramic
capacitor formed by alternately stacking dielectric thin films and
electrode thin films by using a variety of thin film forming
methods, such as the CVD method, evaporation method and sputtering
method.
[0014] However, in the techniques described in these patent
articles, there is no description on composing a dielectric thin
film by using a dielectric material having a small temperature
coefficient and capable of maintaining a relatively high
permittivity, and a temperature compensating thin film multilayer
capacitor is not disclosed.
[0015] Also, a dielectric thin film formed by the methods described
in the patent articles had poor surface smoothness, and
short-circuiting of electrodes arose when stacking too much, so
that those having 12 or 13 stacked layers or so were able to be
produced at most. Therefore, even when the capacitor could be made
compact, a higher capacity could not be attained without
deteriorating temperature characteristics of permittivity.
[0016] Note that as described in the non-patent article 1
["Particle Orientation for Bismuth Layer-Structured Ferroelectric
Ceramic and Application to its Piezoelectric and Pyroelectric
Material" by Tadashi Takenaka, pp. 23 to 77 in chapter 3 of Kyoto
University Doctor of Engineering Thesis (1984)], it is known that a
bulk bismuth layer-structured compound dielectric obtained by the
sintering method is composed of a composition expressed by a
composition formula of (Bi.sub.2O.sub.2).sup.2+(A.sub.m-1 B.sub.m
O.sub.3m+1).sup.2- or Bi.sub.2A.sub.m-1 B.sub.m O.sub.3m+3, wherein
"m" is a positive number from 1 to 8, "A" is at least one element
selected from Na, K, Pb, Ba, Sr, Ca and Bi, and "B" is at least one
element selected from Fe, Co, Cr, Ga, Ti, Nb, Ta, Sb, V, Mo and
W.
[0017] However, in this article, nothing was disclosed on under
what condition (for example, a relationship of a substrate surface
and a c-axis orientation degree of a compound) when making the
composition expressed by the above composition formula thinner (for
example 1 .mu.m or thinner), a thin film having excellent
temperature characteristics of permittivity, capable of giving a
relatively high permittivity and a low loss, having an excellent
leakage property, improved breakdown voltage, and excellent surface
smoothness even when made to be thin could be obtained.
[0018] Also, as disclosed in the patent article 6 (PCT/JP02/08574),
the present inventors have developed "a thin film capacity element
composition containing a bismuth layer-structured compound having a
c-axis oriented vertically with respect to a substrate surface,
wherein:
[0019] the bismuth layer-structured compound is expressed by a
composition formula of (Bi.sub.2O.sub.2).sup.2+(A.sub.m-1 B.sub.m
O.sub.3+1).sup.2- or Bi.sub.2A.sub.m-1 B.sub.m O.sub.3m+3, wherein
"m" is an even number, "A" is at least one element selected from
Na, K, Pb, Ba, Sr, Ca and Bi, and "B" is at least one element
selected from Fe, Co, Cr, Ga, Ti, Nb, Ta, Sb, V, Mo and W" and
filed before.
[0020] The present inventors furthermore pursued experiments and
found that a thin film capacity element composition composed of a
bismuth layer-structured compound having a specific composition
included in claims of the patent article 6 but not described in an
embodiment of the specification had particularly excellent
temperature characteristics of capacitance and that it was possible
to control the temperature characteristics, and completed the
present invention.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0021] An object of the present invention is to provide a thin film
capacity element composition having excellent temperature
characteristics of permittivity, capable of giving a relatively
high permittivity and a low loss, having an excellent leakage
property, improved breakdown voltage, and excellent surface
smoothness even when made to be thin and a thin film capacity
element using the same. Also, another object of the present
invention is to provide a compact thin film multilayer capacitor
using the thin film capacitor element composition as above as a
dielectric thin film, having excellent temperature characteristics
of permittivity and capable of giving a relatively high capacity.
Furthermore, still another object of the present invention is to
provide a high-permittivity insulation film having excellent
temperature characteristics of permittivity, capable of giving a
relatively high permittivity and a low loss, and having an
excellent leakage property, improved breakdown voltage and
excellent surface smoothness. Furthermore, another object of the
present invention is to provide an electronic circuit and
electronic apparatus having excellent moisture compensating
property by freely controlling a temperature coefficient of
permittivity in a dielectric thin film, etc. by controlling a
composition of the composition of the present invention.
[0022] The present inventors have been committed themselves to
study a material and crystal structure of a dielectric thin film to
be used for a capacitor, found that by using a bismuth
layer-structured compound having a specific composition and making
a c-axis ([001] orientation) of the bismuth layer-structured
compound vertical with respect to the substrate surface when
composing the dielectric thin film as a thin film capacitor element
composition, that is, by forming a c-axis orientation film (a thin
film normal line is in parallel with the c-axis) of the bismuth
layer-structured compound on the substrate surface, it was possible
to provide a thin film capacity element compound having excellent
temperature characteristics of the permittivity, a relatively high
permittivity and a low loss (tan .delta. is low), an excellent
leakage property, improved breakdown voltage and excellent surface
smoothness even when made to be thin; and a thin film capacity
element using the same.
[0023] Also, it was found that by using such a thin film capacity
element composition as a dielectric thin film, the number of
stacked layers could be increased and a compact thin film
multilayer capacitor having excellent temperature characteristics
of permittivity and capable of giving a relatively high capacity
could be provided, and the present invention was completed.
Furthermore, it was found that by using such a composition as a
high-permittivity insulation film, application to other use objects
than a thin film capacity element became also possible.
[0024] Furthermore, it was found that an electronic circuit and an
electronic apparatus having an excellent moisture compensating
characteristic could be provided by freely controlling the
temperature coefficient of permittivity in a dielectric thin film,
etc. by controlling a composition of the composition of the present
invention, and the present invention was completed.
[0025] Namely, a thin film capacity element composition according
to the present invention includes
[0026] a first bismuth layer-structured compound having positive
temperature characteristics, that a specific permittivity rises as
a temperature rises, in at least a part of a predetermined
temperature range; and
[0027] a second bismuth layer-structured compound having negative
temperature characteristics, that a specific permittivity declines
as a temperature rises, in at least a part of the predetermined
temperature range;
[0028] at any mixing ratio.
[0029] In the present invention, at least three forms described
below can be considered as a thin film capacity element composition
comprising the first bismuth layer-structured compound and the
second bismuth layer-structured compound at any mixing ratio.
[0030] (1) A thin film capacity element composition, wherein the
first bismuth layer-structured compound and the second bismuth
layer-structured compound exist in a completely solid solution
form,
[0031] (2) a thin film capacity element composition, wherein the
first bismuth layer-structured compound and the second bismuth
layer-structured compound exist not in a completely solid solution
form but particles thereof are mixed, and
[0032] (3) a thin film capacity element composition, wherein the
first bismuth layer-structured compound layer and the second
bismuth layer-structured compound layer exist by being stacked to
sandwich a (Bi.sub.2O.sub.2).sup.2+ layer inside the crystal
structure composing the bismuth layer-structured compound, are
considered.
[0033] In any of the forms, an effect of the present invention is
obtained.
[0034] Preferably, the first and second bismuth layer-structured
compounds are expressed by a composition formula of
(Bi.sub.2O.sub.2).sup.2+(A.sub.m-1 B.sub.m O.sub.3m+1).sup.2- or
Bi.sub.2 A.sub.m-1 B.sub.m O.sub.3m+3, wherein "m" is a positive
number, "A" is at least one element selected from Na, K, Pb, Ba,
Sr, Ca and Bi, and "B" is at least one element selected from Fe,
Co, Cr, Ga, Ti, Nb, Ta, Sb, V, Mo, W and Mn.
[0035] Preferably, a composition formula of the second bismuth
layer-structured compound is expressed by
SrBi.sub.4Ti.sub.4O.sub.15 or SrBi.sub.2Ta.sub.2O.sub.9.
[0036] Preferably, the first bismuth layer-structured compound is
expressed by a composition formula of x
(MBi.sub.4Ti.sub.4O.sub.15), the second bismuth layer-structured
compound is expressed by a composition formula of (1-x)
SrBi.sub.4Ti.sub.4O.sub.15, "M" in the composition formula is at
least one of Ca, Ba and Pb, and "x" indicating a mixing ratio of
the first bismuth layer-structured compound with respect to the
entire composition satisfies 0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.
[0037] Preferably, a compound of the first bismuth layer-structured
compound and second bismuth layer-structured compound is expressed
by a composition formula of
Ca.sub.xSr.sub.(1-x)Bi.sub.4Ti.sub.4O.sub.15, wherein "x" satisfies
0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.
[0038] The thin film capacity element composition of the present
invention may furthermore include a rare earth element (at least
one element selected from Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd,
Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu). Also by including a rare earth
element, control of temperature characteristics of capacitance to a
certain extent becomes possible and temperature characteristics of
capacitance can be furthermore improved.
[0039] In the present invention, a thin film capacity element
composition including the first layer-structured compound and the
second layer-structured compound by any composition ratio is not
necessarily c-axis oriented. In that case, by including the rare
earth element, temperature characteristics of capacitance can be
controlled to a certain extent, and temperature characteristics of
capacitance can be furthermore improved.
[0040] A thin film capacity element composition of the present
invention includes a bismuth layer-structured compound having a
c-axis oriented substantially vertical with respect to a surface of
a thin film formation substrate, wherein:
[0041] the bismuth layer-structured compound is expressed by a
composition formula of
Ca.sub.xSr.sub.(1-x)Bi.sub.4Ti.sub.4O.sub.15, wherein "x" satisfies
0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.
[0042] A thin film capacity element according to the present
invention is a thin film capacity element, wherein a lower portion
electrode, a dielectric thin film and an upper portion electrode
are formed successively on a substrate, wherein
[0043] the dielectric thin film is composed of the thin film
capacity element composition as set forth in any of the above.
[0044] Also, a thin film capacity element according to the present
invention is
[0045] a thin film capacity element, wherein a lower portion
electrode, a dielectric thin film and an upper portion electrode
are formed successively on a substrate, wherein:
[0046] the dielectric thin film is composed of a thin film capacity
element composition;
[0047] the thin film capacity element composition has a bismuth
layer-structured compound having a c-axis oriented substantially
vertical with respect to a surface of a thin film formation
substrate; and
[0048] the bismuth layer-structured compound is expressed by a
composition formula of
Ca.sub.xSr.sub.(1-x)Bi.sub.4Ti.sub.4O.sub.15, wherein "x" satisfies
0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.
[0049] In the present invention, an average change rate
(.DELTA..epsilon.) of a permittivity against a temperature at least
in a temperature range of -55.degree. C. to +150.degree. C. is
preferably within .+-.100 ppm/.degree. C. (reference temperature is
25.degree. C.), more preferably within .+-.70 ppm/.degree. C.
(reference temperature is 25.degree. C.), and particularly
preferably within .+-.30 ppm/.degree. C. (reference temperature is
25.degree. C.).
[0050] A thin film multilayer capacitor according to the present
invention is
[0051] A thin film multilayer capacity, wherein a plurality of
dielectric thin films and internal electrode thin films are
alternately stacked on a substrate, wherein:
[0052] the dielectric thin film is composed of the thin film
capacity element composition as set forth in any one of the
above.
[0053] A thin film multilayer capacitor according to another aspect
of the present invention is
[0054] a thin film multilayer capacitor, wherein a plurality of
dielectric thin films and internal electrode thin films are
alternately stacked on a substrate, wherein:
[0055] the dielectric thin film is composed of a thin film capacity
element composition;
[0056] the thin film capacity element composition includes a
bismuth layer-structured compound having a c-axis being
substantially vertical with respect to a surface of a thin film
formation substrate; and
[0057] the bismuth layer-structured compound is expressed by a
composition formula of
Ca.sub.xSr.sub.(1-x)Bi.sub.4Ti.sub.4O.sub.15, wherein "x" satisfies
0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.
[0058] The high-permittivity insulation film according to the
present invention is composed of the thin film capacity element
composition as set forth in any one of the above and including a
bismuth layer-structured compound having a c-axis oriented
substantially vertical with respect to a surface of a thin film
formation substrate.
[0059] A high-permittivity insulation film according to another
aspect of the present invention is
[0060] A high-permittivity insulation film, including a bismuth
layer-structured compound having a c-axis oriented substantially
vertical with respect to a surface of the thin film formation
substrate, wherein:
[0061] the bismuth layer-structured compound is expressed by a
composition formula of
Ca.sub.xSr.sub.(1-x)Bi.sub.4Ti.sub.4O.sub.15, wherein "x" satisfies
0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.
[0062] In the present invention, preferably x in the composition
formula is 0<x<1, more preferably 0.25<x<0.75, and
particularly preferably 0.5<x<0.75.
[0063] Note that the "thin film" mentioned in the present invention
means a film of a material having a thickness of several .ANG. to
several .mu.m or so formed by a variety of thin film forming
methods and excludes a bulk (block) of a thick film having a
thickness of several hundreds of .mu.m or thicker formed by the
sintering method. The thin film includes a continuous film which
continuously covers a predetermined region and a discontinuous film
which covers discontinuously at any intervals. The thin film may be
formed at a part of or allover a substrate.
[0064] A thickness of a dielectric thin film (or high-permittivity
insulation film) formed by the thin film capacity element
composition according to the present invention is preferably 5 to
1000 nm. Effects of the present invention are enhanced in the case
of such a thickness.
[0065] A production method of the thin film capacity element
composition according to the present invention is not particularly
limited, and can be produced, for example, by using a substrate
oriented to the [001] direction of a cubic crystal, tetragonal
crystal, rhombic crystal and monoclinic, etc. In this case, the
substrate is preferably composed of a monocrystal.
[0066] In the present invention, the orientation degree of the
composition may be random or c-axis orientation. Note that in the
case of a thin film capacity element composition including a
bismuth layer-structured compound expressed by a composition
formula of Ca.sub.xSr.sub.(1-x)Bi.sub.4Ti.sub.4O.sub.15, c-axis
orientation is preferable.
[0067] In this case, it is particularly preferable that the c-axis
of the bismuth layer-structured compound is oriented by 100% and
being vertical with respect to the substrate surface, that is, the
c-axis orientation degree of the bismuth layer-structured compound
is 100%, but the c-axis orientation degree does not have to be
always 100%.
[0068] Preferably, the c-axis orientation degree of the bismuth
layer-structured compound is 80% or higher, more preferably 90% or
higher, and particularly preferably 95% or higher. By improving the
c-axis orientation degree, effects of the present invention is
enhanced.
[0069] Preferably, in the thin film multilayer capacitor according
to the present invention, the internal electrode thin film is
composed of a precious metal, base metal or a conductive oxide.
[0070] In the thin film capacitor element and thin film multilayer
capacitor according to the present invention, the substrate may be
composed of an amorphous material. The lower portion electrode (or
internal electrode thin film) formed on the substrate is preferably
formed to be in the [001] direction. By forming the lower portion
electrode to be in the [001] direction, the c-axis of the bismuth
layer-structured compound composing a dielectric thin film formed
thereon can be oriented vertically with respect to the substrate
surface.
[0071] In the thin film capacity element composition according to
the present invention, when a bismuth layer-structured compound
having a specific composition is configured to be c-axis oriented,
a thin film capacity element composition composed of a bismuth
layer-structured compound having a specific composition being
c-axis oriented and a thin film capacity element, such as a
capacitor, etc., using the same are excellent in temperature
characteristics of permittivity (an average change rate of a
permittivity against a temperature at a reference temperature of
25.degree. C. is within .+-.100 ppm/.degree. C.), capable of giving
a relatively high permittivity (for example, 200 or higher) and a
low loss (tan .delta. is 0.02 or lower), and having an excellent
leakage property (for example, the leakage current measured at
electric field intensity of 50 kV/cm is 1.times.10.sup.-7
A/cm.sup.2 or lower), improved breakdown voltage (for example, 1000
kV/cm or higher) and excellent surface smoothness (for example,
surface roughness Ra is 2 nm or less).
[0072] Also, the thin film capacity element composition according
to the present invention is excellent in temperature
characteristics of permittivity, capable of giving a relatively
high permittivity even when the film is made thin, moreover, the
surface smoothness is preferable, so that the number of stacked
dielectric thin films of the thin film capacity element composition
can be also increased. Accordingly, by using the thin film capacity
element composition as above, a compact thin film multilayer
capacitor as a thin film capacity element being excellent in
temperature characteristics of permittivity and capable of giving a
relatively high capacity can be provided.
[0073] Furthermore, the thin film element composition and thin film
capacity element of the present invention are excellent in a
frequency characteristic (for example, a ratio of a permittivity
value in a high frequency range of 1 MHz and that in a lower
frequency range of 1 kHz at a specific temperature is 0.9 to 1.1 as
an absolute value) and excellent in a voltage characteristic (for
example, a ratio of a permittivity value at a measurement voltage
of 0.1V and that at a measurement voltage of 5V under a specific
frequency is 0.9 to 1.1 as an absolute value).
[0074] The thin film capacity element is not particularly limited,
and a capacitor (for example, a single layer thin film capacitor
and a multilayer thin film multilayer capacitor, etc.) and a
capacitor (for example, for a DRAM, etc.), etc. having a
conductor-insulator-conductor structure may be mentioned.
[0075] The thin film capacity element composition is not
particularly limited, and a capacitor dielectric thin film
composition, etc. may be mentioned.
[0076] The high-permittivity insulation film according to the
present invention is composed of a composition having the same
composition as that of the thin film capacity element composition
according to the present invention. The high-permittivity
insulation film of the present invention may be used, for example,
as a gate insulation film of a semiconductor apparatus and an
intermediate insulation film between a gate electrode and a
floating gate, etc. other than the thin film dielectric film of a
thin film capacity element or a capacitor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0077] Below, the present invention will be explained based on an
embodiment shown in the drawings.
[0078] FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an example of a thin film
capacitor according to the present invention.
[0079] FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an example of a thin film
multilayer capacitor according to the present invention.
[0080] FIG. 3 is a graph showing temperature characteristics of a
capacitor sample of an example.
[0081] FIG. 4 is a graph showing frequency characteristics of a
capacitor sample of an example.
[0082] FIG. 5 is a graph showing voltage characteristics of a
capacitor sample of an example.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
First Embodiment
[0083] In the present embodiment, a thin film capacitor, wherein a
dielectric thin film is formed by single layer, will be explained
as an example of a thin film capacity element. As shown in FIG. 1,
a thin film capacitor 2 according to an embodiment of the present
invention has a thin film formation substrate 4, and a lower
portion electrode thin film 6 is formed on the substrate 4. A
dielectric thin film 8 is formed on the lower portion electrode
thin film 6. An upper portion electrode thin film 10 is formed on
the dielectric thin film B.
[0084] The substrate 4 is composed of a single crystal having good
lattice matching (for example, SrTiO.sub.3 single crystal, MgO
single crystal and LaAlO.sub.3 single crystal, etc.), an amorphous
material (for example, glass, fused silica and SiO.sub.2/Si, etc.)
and other material (for example, ZrO.sub.2/Si and CeO.sub.2/Si,
etc.), etc. Particularly preferably, it is composed of a substrate
oriented to the [001] direction of a cubic crystal, tetragonal
crystal, rhombic crystal and monoclinic, etc. A thickness of the
substrate 4 is not particularly limited and is, for example, 100 to
1000 .mu.m or so.
[0085] In the present embodiment, a silicon monocrystal substrate
is used as the substrate 4, an insulation layer 5 composed of a
thermally-oxidized film (silicon oxidized film) is formed on a
surface thereof, and a lower portion electrode thin film 6 is
formed on the surface. A material for forming the lower portion
electrode thin film 6 is not particularly limited as far as it has
conductivity, and the lower portion electrode thin film 6 may be
formed by using platinum (Pt), ruthenium (Ru), rhodium (Rh),
palladium (Pd), iridium (Ir), gold (Au), silver (Ag), copper (Cu),
nickel (Ni) and other metal, alloys containing these as a main
component, and a conductive oxide having a perovskite structure,
such as SuRuO.sub.3, CaRuO.sub.3, SrVO.sub.3, SrCrO.sub.3,
SrCoO.sub.3, LaNiO.sub.3 and Nb dope SrTiO.sub.3, and a mixture of
these.
[0086] The lower portion electrode thin film in the case of using
an amorphous material as the substrate 4 may be composed, for
example, of ITO and other conductive glass.
[0087] A thickness of the lower portion electrode thin film 6 is
not particularly limited, but is preferably 10 to 1000 nm, and more
preferably 50 to 100 nm or so.
[0088] The upper electrode thin film 10 may be composed of the same
material as that of the lower portion electrode thin film 6. A
thickness thereof may be also the same.
[0089] The dielectric thin film 8 is an example of a thin film
capacity element composition of the present invention and
includes
[0090] a first bismuth layer-structured compound having positive
temperature characteristics, that a specific permittivity rises as
a temperature rises, in at least a part of a predetermined
temperature range; and
[0091] a second bismuth layer-structured compound having negative
temperature characteristics, that a specific permittivity declines
as a temperature rises, in at least a part of the predetermined
temperature range;
[0092] at any mixing ratio.
[0093] In the present invention, at least three forms described
below can be considered as a thin film capacity element composition
including the first bismuth layer-structured compound and the
second bismuth layer-structured compound at any mixing ratio.
[0094] (1) A thin film capacity element composition, wherein the
first bismuth layer-structured compound and the second bismuth
layer-structured compound exist in a completely solid solution
form,
[0095] (2) a thin film capacity element composition, wherein the
first bismuth layer-structured compound and the second bismuth
layer-structured compound exist not in a completely solid solution
form but particles thereof are mixed, and
[0096] (3) a thin film capacity element composition, wherein the
first bismuth layer-structured compound layer and the second
bismuth layer-structured compound layer exist by being stacked to
sandwich a (Bi.sub.2O.sub.2).sup.2+ layer inside the crystal
structure composing the bismuth layer-structured compound, are
considered.
[0097] In any of the forms, an effect of the present invention is
obtained.
[0098] The first and second bismuth layer-structured compounds are
expressed by a composition formula of
(Bi.sub.2O.sub.2).sup.2+(A.sub.m-1 B.sub.m O.sub.3m+1).sup.2- or
Bi.sub.2 A.sub.m-1 B.sub.m O.sub.3m+3, wherein "m" is a positive
number, "A" is at least one element selected from Na, K, Pb, Ba,
Sr, Ca and Bi, and "B" is at least one element selected from Fe,
Co, Cr, Ga, Ti, Nb, Ta, Sb, V, Mo, W and Mn.
[0099] Specifically, a bismuth layer-structured compound expressed
by SrBi.sub.4Ti.sub.4O.sub.15 or SrBi.sub.2Ta.sub.2O.sub.9 may be
mentioned as the second bismuth layer-structured compound. The
present inventors found that these bismuth compounds had negative
temperature characteristics that the specific permittivity declines
as the temperature rises at least in a part of the predetermined
temperature range. In this case, SrBi.sub.4Ti.sub.4O.sub.15 has the
c-axis orientation degree of preferably higher than 94%.
[0100] Also, as the first bismuth layer-structured compound, almost
all bismuth layer-structured compounds except for the bismuth
layer-structured compound expressed by SrBi.sub.4Ti.sub.4O.sub.15
or SrBi.sub.2Ta.sub.2O.sub.9 may be mentioned. The almost all
bismuth layer-structured compounds except for the bismuth
layer-structured compound expressed by SrBi.sub.4Ti.sub.4O.sub.15
or SrBi.sub.2Ta.sub.2O.sub.9 have positive temperature
characteristics that the specific permittivity rises as the
temperature rises at least in a part of the predetermined
temperature range. As a particularly preferable first bismuth
layer-structured compound, a bismuth layer-structured compound
expressed by a composition formula of SrBi.sub.4Ti.sub.4O.sub.15,
wherein "M" is at least one of Ca, Ba and Pb, may be mentioned. The
present inventors found that these bismuth layer-structured
compounds have the positive temperature characteristics that the
specific permittivity rises as the temperature rises at least in a
part of the predetermined temperature range.
[0101] In the present invention, by forming a compound comprising
the first bismuth layer-structured compound and the second bismuth
layer-structured compound at a predetermined mixture ratio,
temperature characteristics (a temperature coefficient) of a thin
film capacity composition can be freely controlled. For example, by
changing the composition ratio "x" (0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1) of the
first bismuth layer-structured compound with respect to an entire
composition including the first layer-structured compound and the
second layer-structured compound, it is possible to shift the
temperature coefficient from negative to positive or the other way
around. Note that it is liable that the temperature coefficient
becomes negative when getting close to x=0, and the temperature
coefficient becomes positive when getting close to x=1.
[0102] Furthermore specifically, the thin film capacity composition
in this embodiment includes a bismuth layer-structured compound
expressed by a composition formula of
Ca.sub.xSr.sub.(1-x)Bi.sub.4Ti.sub.4O.sub.15, wherein "x" satisfies
0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1. Generally, a bismuth layer-structured compound
has a layered configuration that a layered perovskite layer,
wherein perovskite lattices composed of ABO.sub.3 are connected, is
sandwiched by a pair of layers of Bi and O. In the present
embodiment, orientation of such a bismuth layer-structured compound
to the [001] direction, that is, the c-axis orientation is
intensified. Namely, the dielectric thin film 8 is formed, so that
the c-axis of the bismuth layer-structured compound becomes
oriented vertically with respect to the substrate 4.
[0103] In the present invention, it is particularly preferable that
the c-axis orientation degree of the bismuth layer-structured
compound is 100%, but it does not always have to be 100%, and when
preferably 80% or more, more preferably 90% or more and furthermore
preferably 95% or more of the bismuth layer-structured compound is
c-axis oriented, it is sufficient. For example, when making the
bismuth layer-structured compound to be c-axis oriented by using a
substrate 4 composed of an amorphous material, such as glass, the
c-axis orientation degree of the bismuth layer-structured compound
may be preferably 80% or higher. Also, when making the bismuth
layer-structured compound to be c-axis oriented by using a later
explained variety of thin film forming methods, the c-axis
orientation degree of the bismuth layer-structured compound may be
preferably 90% or higher, and more preferably 95% or higher.
[0104] The c-axis orientation degree "F" of the bismuth
layer-structured compound here is obtained by the formula (1)
below. F(%)=(P-P0)/(1-P0).times.100 (1)
[0105] In the formula (1), P0 is X-ray diffraction intensity of a
c-axis of polycrystal having a completely random orientation, that
is, a ratio of a total .SIGMA.I(001) of reflection intensity I(001)
from a plane (001) of polycrystal having a completely random
orientation and a total .SIGMA.I(hk1) of reflection intensity
I(hk1) from respective crystal surfaces (hk1) of the polycrystal,
that is ({.SIGMA.I(001)/.SIGMA.I(hk1)}; and P is X-ray diffraction
intensity of a c-axis of a bismuth layer-structured compound, that
is, a ratio of a total .SIGMA.I(001) of reflection intensity I(001)
from a plane (001) of the bismuth layer-structured compound and a
total .SIGMA.I(hk1) of reflection intensity I(hk1) from respective
crystal surfaces (hk1) of the bismuth layer-structured compound,
that is ({.SIGMA.I(001)/.SIGMA.I(hk1)}. Here, "h", "k" and "1" are
any of 0 or larger integers, respectively.
[0106] Here, because P0 is a constant, when the total .SIGMA.I(001)
of reflection intensity I(001) from a plane (001) is equal to the
total .SIGMA.I(hk1) of reflection intensity I(hk1) from respective
crystal surfaces (hk1), that is, when P=1, the c-axis orientation
degree F of an anisotropic material becomes 100%.
[0107] Note that the c-axis of the bismuth layer-structured
compound means the direction of combining a pair of
(Bi.sub.2O.sub.2).sup.2+ layers, that is, the [001] direction. As a
result that the bismuth layer-structured compound is c-axis
oriented as above, dielectric characteristics of the dielectric
thin film 8 are fully brought out. Namely, temperature
characteristics of permittivity become excellent and, even when a
film thickness of the dielectric thin film 8 is made thin as, for
example, 100 nm or thinner, a relatively high permittivity and a
low loss (tan .sigma. is low) can be given, the leakage property
becomes excellent, breakdown voltage is improved and excellent
surface smoothness is obtained. When the tan .delta. decreases, a
loss Q (1/tan .delta.) value increases.
[0108] In the dielectric thin film 8, at least one element (rare
earth element Re) selected from Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu,
Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu may be furthermore included in
the bismuth layer-structured compound. Also by including the rare
earth element, temperature characteristics of capacitance can be
controlled to a certain extent, and temperature characteristics of
capacitance can be furthermore improved.
[0109] In the present invention, a thin film capacity element
composition including the first layer-structured compound-and the
second layer-structured compound by any composition ratio is not
necessarily c-axis oriented. In that case, by including the rare
earth element, temperature characteristics of capacitance can be
controlled, and temperature characteristics of capacitance can be
furthermore improved.
[0110] A film thickness of the dielectric thin film 8 is preferably
200 nm or thinner, and more preferably 100 nm or thinner in terms
of attaining a high capacity. Note that a lower limit of the film
thickness is preferably 30 nm or so in consideration of an
insulation property of the film.
[0111] In the dielectric thin film 8, surface roughness (Ra), for
example, based on JIS-B0601 is preferably 2 nm or less, and more
preferably 1 nm or less.
[0112] In the dielectric thin film 8, permittivity at 25.degree. C.
(room temperature) and a measurement frequency of 100 kHz (AC 20
mV) is preferably higher than 150, and more preferably 200 or
higher.
[0113] In the dielectric thin film 8, tan .sigma. at 25.degree. C.
(room temperature) with a measurement frequency of 100 kHz (AC 20
mV) is preferably 0.02 or lower, and more preferably 0.01 or lower.
Also, a loss Q value is preferably 50 or larger, and more
preferably 100 or larger.
[0114] In the dielectric thin film 8, change (particularly, a
decline) of the permittivity is a little even when a frequency
under a specific temperature (for example, 25.degree. C.) is
changed to a high frequency range of, for example, 1 MHz or so.
Specifically, a ratio of a permittivity value in a high frequency
region of 1 MHz and that in a lower frequency range of 1 kHz at a
specific temperature can be set to 0.9 to 1.1 as an absolute value.
Namely, the frequency characteristic is preferable.
[0115] In the dielectric thin film 8, change of capacitance is a
little even when a measurement voltage (application voltage) is
changed, for example, to 5V or so under a specific frequency (for
example, 10 kHz, 100 kHz and 1 MHz, etc.). Specifically, a ratio of
a permittivity value at a measurement voltage of 0.1V and that at a
measurement voltage of 5V under a specific frequency can be set to
0.9 to 1.1. Namely, the voltage characteristic is preferable.
[0116] The dielectric thin film 8 as above can be formed by using a
variety of thin film formation methods, such as a vacuum deposition
method, sputtering method, pulse laser deposition (PLD) method,
metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) method,
metal-organic decomposition method and other liquid-phase method
(CSD method). Particularly when the dielectric thin film 8 has to
be formed at a low temperature, a plasma CVD, optical CVD, laser
CVD, optical CSD and laser CSD methods are preferably used.
[0117] In the present embodiment, the dielectric thin film 8 is
formed by using a substrate, etc. oriented to a specific direction
([001] direction, etc.). In terms of reducing the production cost,
it is more preferable to use a substrate 4 composed of an amorphous
material. When using a dielectric thin film 8 formed as above, a
bismuth layer-structured compound having a specific composition is
configured to be c-axis oriented. The dielectric thin film 8 and a
thin film capacitor 2 using the same are excellent in temperature
characteristics of permittivity, capable of giving a relatively
high permittivity and a low loss, and have an excellent leakage
property, improved breakdown voltage, and excellent surface
smoothness.
[0118] Also, the dielectric thin film 8 and thin film capacitor 2
as such are also excellent in frequency characteristics and voltage
characteristics.
Second Embodiment
[0119] In the present embodiment, a thin film multilayer capacitor,
wherein a dielectric thin film is formed to be multilayer, will be
explained as an example of a thin film capacitor element.
[0120] As shown in FIG. 2, a thin film multilayer capacitor 20
according to an embodiment of the present invention has a capacity
element body 22. The capacitor element body 22 has a multilayer
structure, wherein a plurality of dielectric thin films 8a and
internal electrode thin films 24 and 26 are alternately arranged on
a substrate 4a and a protective layer 30 is formed to cover the
outermost dielectric thin film 8a. A pair of external electrodes 28
and 29 are formed at both end portions of the capacitor element
body 22, and the pair of external electrodes 28 and 29 are
electrically connected to exposed end surfaces of the plurality of
internal electrode thin films 24 and 26 alternately arranged inside
the capacitor element body 22, so that a capacitor circuit is
configured. A shape of the capacitor element 22 is not particularly
limited but is normally rectangular parallelepiped. Also, a size
thereof is not particularly limited and., for example, a length
(0.01 to 10 mm).times.width (0.01 to 10 mm).times.height (0.01 to 1
mm) or so.
[0121] The substrate 4a is formed by the same material as that of
the substrate 4 in the first embodiment explained above. The
dielectric thin film 8a is formed by the same material as that of
the dielectric thin film 8 in the first embodiment explained
above.
[0122] The internal electrode thin films 24 and 26 are formed by
the same material as that of the lower portion electrode thin film
6 and the upper portion electrode thin film 10 in the first
embodiment. A material of the external electrodes 28 and 29 is not
particularly limited and composed of CaRuO.sub.3, SrRuO.sub.3 and
other conductive oxides; Cu, a Cu alloy, Ni, a Ni alloy or other
base metals:; Pt, Ag, Pd, an Ag--Pd alloy and other precious
metals; etc. A thickness thereof is not particularly limited and
may be, for example, 10 to 1000 nm or so. A material of the
protective layer 30 is not particularly limited and it may be
composed of, for example, a silicon oxide film and an aluminum
oxide film, etc.
[0123] In the thin film multilayer capacitor 20, after forming a
first internal electrode thin film 24 on the substrate 4a by using
a mask, such as a metal mask, the dielectric thin film 8a is formed
on the internal electrode thin film 24, then, a second internal
electrode thin film 26 is formed on the dielectric thin film 8a.
After repeating such steps for a plurality of times, an outermost
dielectric thin film 8a on the opposite side of the substrate 4a is
covered with the protective film 30, so that the capacitor element
22, wherein a plurality of internal electrode thin films 24 and 26
and dielectric thin films 8 are alternately arranged on the
substrate 4a, is formed. By covering with the protective film 30,
an effect of moisture in the air on the inside of the capacitor
element 22 can be suppressed. Also, when forming the external
electrodes 28 and 29 on both end portions of the capacitor element
22 by dipping or sputtering, etc., internal electrode thin films 24
as odd layers are electrically connected to one of the external
electrode 28, and internal electrode thin films 26 as even layers
are electrically connected to the other external electrode 29, so
that the thin film multilayer capacitor 20 is obtained.
[0124] In the present embodiment, it is preferable to use a
substrate 4a composed of an amorphous material in terms of reducing
the production cost.
[0125] The dielectric thin film 8a used in the present embodiment
is excellent in temperature characteristics of permittivity and
capable of giving a relatively high permittivity even when made to
be thin and, moreover, has preferable surface smoothness, so that
it is possible to increase the number of stacked layers to 20 or
more, and preferably 50 or more. Therefore, a compact thin film
multilayer capacitor 20 having excellent temperature
characteristics of permittivity and capable of giving a relatively
high capacity can be provided.
[0126] In the thin film capacitor 2 and thin film multilayer
capacitor 20 according to the present embodiment as explained
above, it is preferable that an average change rate
(.DELTA..epsilon.) of the permittivity against temperature in a
range of at least -55 to +150.degree. C. is within .+-.100
ppm/.degree. C. (the reference temperature is 25.degree. C.), more
preferably within .+-.70 ppm/.degree. C., and particularly
preferably within .+-.30 ppm/.degree. C.
[0127] Next, the present invention will be explained further in
detail by taking more specific examples of the embodiment of the
present invention. Note that the present invention is not limited
to the examples.
EXAMPLE 1
[0128] A SrTiO.sub.3 monocrystal substrate
((001)SrRuO.sub.3//(001)SrTiO.sub.3) obtained by performing
epitaxial growing of SrRuO.sub.3 to be a lower portion electrode
thin film to the [001] direction was heated to be 700.degree. C.
Next, on a surface of the lower portion electrode thin film, a
plurality of Ca.sub.xSr.sub.(1-x)Bi.sub.4Ti.sub.4O.sub.15 thin
films (dielectric thin films) having a film thickness of about 100
nm were formed by changing x to 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.6, 0.75 and 1 by
using
Ca(C.sub.11H.sub.19O.sub.2).sub.2(C.sub.8H.sub.23N.sub.5).sub.2,
Sr(C.sub.11H.sub.19O.sub.2).sub.2(C.sub.8H.sub.23N.sub.5).sub.2,
Bi(CH.sub.3).sub.3 and Ti(O-i-C.sub.3H.sub.7).sub.4 as materials by
the MOCVD method. The value of x was controlled by adjusting a
carrier gas flow amount of Ca material and Sr material.
[0129] When X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement was made on a
crystal structure of the dielectric thin films, it was confirmed to
be oriented in the [001] direction, that is, c-axis oriented being
vertical with respect to the SrTiO.sub.3 monocrystal surface. Also,
surface roughness (Ra) of the dielectric thin films was measured by
an AFM (atomic force microscope SPI3800 made by Seiko Instruments
Inc.) based on JIS-B0601.
[0130] Next, a Pt upper portion electrode thin film having 0.1 mmo
was formed by a sputtering method on a surface of the dielectric
thin films to produce samples of a thin film capacitor.
[0131] Electric characteristics (permittivity, tan .delta., loss Q
value, leakage current and breakdown voltage) and temperature
characteristics of permittivity of the obtained capacitor samples
were evaluated.
[0132] The permittivity (no unit) was calculated for each capacitor
sample from a capacitance measured under a condition of a
measurement frequency of 100 kHz (AC 20 mV) at the room temperature
(25.degree. C.) by using a digital LCR meter (4274A made by YHP),
and an electrode size and distance between electrodes of the
capacitor sample.
[0133] As to tan .delta., measurement was made under the same
condition as that of measuring the above capacitance, and a loss Q
value was calculated along therewith.
[0134] The leakage current characteristic (unit: A/cm.sup.2) was
measured at electric field intensity of 50 kV/cm.
[0135] The temperature characteristics of permittivity were
obtained for each capacitor sample by measuring a permittivity of
each capacitor sample under the above condition, obtaining an
average change rate (.DELTA..epsilon.) of the permittivity against
a temperature in a temperature range of -55 to +150.degree. C. when
assuming that the reference temperature was 25.degree. C., and
calculating a temperature coefficient (ppm/.degree. C.). The
breakdown voltage (unit is kV/cm) was measured by raising a voltage
in the leakage property measurement.
[0136] The results are shown in Table 1 and FIG. 3.
[0137] Table 1 TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Plane Orientation Orientation
Film Surface Breakdown Leakage Temperature of Direction Thickness
Roughness Voltage Current Coefficient Loss x Substrate of Film (nm)
(Ra(nm) (kV/cm) (A/cm.sup.2) Permittivity (ppm/.degree. C.) tan
.delta. Q Value Example 1 0 [100] [001] 100 <2 >1000 <1
.times. 10.sup.-7 200 -150 <0.02 >50 Example 1 0.25 [100]
[001] 100 <2 >1000 <1 .times. 10.sup.-7 200 -90 <0.02
>50 Example 1 0.5 [100] [001] 100 <2 >1000 <1 .times.
10.sup.-7 210 -40 <0.02 >50 Example 1 0.6 [100] [001] 100
<2 >1000 <1 .times. 10.sup.-7 210 0 <0.02 >50
Example 1 0.75 [100] [001] 100 <2 >1000 <1 .times.
10.sup.-7 220 30 <0.02 >50 Example 1 1 [100] [001] 100 <2
>1000 <1 .times. 10.sup.-7 220 100 <0.02 >50
[0138] Evaluation
[0139] As shown in Table 1, it was confirmed that a c-axis oriented
film of the bismuth layer-structured compound obtained in the
example 1 had a high breakdown voltage of 1000 kV/cm, a low leakage
current of about 1.times.10.sup.-7 or so, a permittivity of 200 or
higher, tan .delta. of 0.02 or lower, and a loss Q value was 50 or
larger. Consequently, the film is expected to be furthermore
thinner and, moreover, a higher capacity can be also expected as a
thin film capacitor. Also, in the example 1, although the
temperature coefficient was very small as .+-.150 ppm/.degree. C.
or smaller, the permittivity was relatively high as 200 or higher,
and it was confirmed that excellent basic characteristics as a
temperature compensating capacitor element were obtained.
Furthermore, in the example 1, the surface smoothness was
excellent, so that it was confirmed to be a suitable thin film
material for producing a multilayer structure. Namely,
effectiveness of the c-axis oriented film of the bismuth
layer-structured compound was confirmed from the example 1.
[0140] Also, in the example 1, when a value of x is preferably
0<x<1, more preferably 0.25<x<0.75, and particularly
preferably 0.5<x<0.75, it was confirmed that the temperature
coefficient can be made furthermore smaller as within .+-.100
ppm/.degree. C. (reference temperature is 25.degree. C.), within
.+-.70 ppm/.degree. C. and within .+-.30 ppm/.degree. C.
[0141] Furthermore, by changing the composition ratio x of the
first bismuth layer-structured compound having a positive
temperature coefficient and the second bismuth layer-structured
compound having a negative temperature coefficient, it was
confirmed that a temperature coefficient of the dielectric thin
film (composition film) could be controlled.
EXAMPLE 2
[0142] In the present example, frequency characteristics and
voltage characteristics were evaluated by using the thin film
capacitor samples produced in the example 1.
[0143] The frequency characteristics were evaluated as below. By
changing a frequency from 1 kHz to 1 MHz at the room temperature
(25.degree. C.), the capacitance was measured on each capacitor
sample, and a result of calculating the permittivity was shown in
FIG. 4. An LCR meter was used for measuring the capacitance. As
shown in FIG. 4, it was confirmed that the permittivity value did
not change even if the frequency was changed to 1 MHz under a
specific temperature. Namely, the frequency characteristics were
confirmed to be excellent.
[0144] The voltage characteristics were evaluated as below. For
each capacitor sample, a measurement voltage (application voltage)
was changed from 0.1V (electric field intensity of 5 kV/cm) to 5V
(electric field intensity of 250 kV/cm) under a specific frequency
(100 kHz), a capacitance under a specific voltage was measured (the
measurement temperature was 25.degree. C.), and a result of
calculating the permittivity was shown in FIG. 5. An LCR meter was
used for measuring the capacitance. As shown in FIG. 5, it was
confirmed that the permittivity value did not change even if the
measurement voltage was changed to 5V under a specific frequency.
Namely, the voltage characteristics were confirmed to be
excellent.
EXAMPLE 3
[0145] First, a SrTiO.sub.3 monocrystal substrate 4a (the thickness
was 0.3 mm) oriented in the [001] direction (refer to FIG. 2. It
will be the same below) was prepared, a metal mask having a
predetermined pattern was provided on the substrate 4a, and a
electrode thin film made by SrRuO.sub.3 was formed as an internal
electrode thin film 24 to be a film thickness of 100 nm by a pulse
laser evaporation method (pattern 1).
[0146] Next, by the pulse laser evaporation method, a
Ca.sub.xSr.sub.(1-x)Bi.sub.4Ti.sub.4O.sub.15 thin film (dielectric
thin film), wherein x=0.5, was formed to be a film thickness of 100
nm as a dielectric thin film 8a on allover the surface of the
substrate 4a including the internal electrode thin film 24 in the
same way as in the example 1.
[0147] Next, a metal mask in a predetermined pattern was provided
on the dielectric thin film, and an electrode thin film made by
SrRuO.sub.3 was formed to be a film thickness of 100 nm as an
internal electrode thin film 26 by the pulse laser evaporation
method (pattern 2).
[0148] Next, by the pulse laser evaporation method, a dielectric
thin film as a dielectric thin film 8a was formed to be a film
thickness of 100 nm again on allover the surface of the substrate
4a including the internal electrode thin film 26 in the same way as
above.
[0149] By repeating the above steps, 20 dielectric thin films were
stacked. Then, a surface of the outermost dielectric thin film 8a
was covered with a protective layer 30 composed of silica, so that
a capacitor element body 22 was obtained.
[0150] Next, external electrodes 28 and 29 composed of Ag were
formed at both end portions of the capacitor element body 22 to
obtain samples of a thin film multilayer capacitor in a rectangular
parallelepiped shape of a length 1 mm.times.width 0.5 mm.times.0.4
mm.
[0151] When evaluating electric characteristics (a permittivity,
dielectric loss, Q value, leakage current and short-circuiting
rate) of the obtained capacitor samples in the same way as in
example 1, the permittivity was 210, tan .delta. was 0.02 or lower,
a loss Q value was 50 or larger, and leakage current was
1.times.10.sup.-7 A/cm.sup.2 or smaller, which were preferable
results. Also, when evaluating temperature characteristics of
permittivity of the capacitor samples, the temperature coefficient
was -20 ppm/.degree. C.
[0152] An embodiment and examples of the present invention were
explained above, but the present invention is not limited to the
embodiment and examples and may be variously modified within the
scope of the present invention.
[0153] As explained above, according to the present invention, it
is possible to provide a thin film capacitor element composition
having excellent temperature characteristics of permittivity,
capable of giving a relatively high permittivity and a low loss
even when made to be thin, and having an excellent leakage
property, improved breakdown voltage and excellent surface
smoothness, and a thin film capacitor element using the same. Also,
according to the present invention, it is also possible to provide
a compact thin film multilayer capacitor with excellent temperature
characteristics of permittivity and a relatively high capacity by
using the thin film capacity element composition as a dielectric
thin film. Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is
also possible to provide a high-permittivity insulation film having
excellent temperature characteristics of permittivity, capable of
giving a relatively high permittivity and a low loss even when made
to be thin, and having an excellent leakage property, improved
breakdown voltage and excellent surface smoothness.
[0154] Also, in the present invention, by changing the mixing ratio
of the first bismuth layer-structured compound having a positive
temperature coefficient and the second bismuth layer-structured
compound having a negative temperature coefficient, a temperature
coefficient of permittivity in a dielectric thin film, etc. can be
freely controlled in accordance with the use object, etc.
* * * * *